Sermons from Grace/Bethel

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart because God has removed his judgment against you. He is among you as a hero to save you.

Be careful what you ask for. That was what God told his people through Malachi. They wanted the Messiah to come and bring justice thinking they were the good people. God reminds them, and us, that only he is good. We are all sinners who need to be purified and cleansed from our sins. Thankfully Jesus didn't come in justice but to win salvation. God's soap is his blood shed for us on the cross. It...

How does the Lord come near us now, between his first and second comings? He comes near to us in the Word and Sacraments, assuring us of his presence with us and his forgiveness of our sins.

Jesus entered Jerusalem with humble confidence and went to the cross to pay for the sins of the world Because of what he did in our place we too have humble confidence that our sins are forgiven and that we have a place in heaven.

Paul was able to be contend no matter what his situation in life was because he talked to the Lord in prayer, he focused on things that were excellent, praiseworthy and eternal, he was strengthened by Jesus through the word, and he rejoiced in the fellowship he had with other Christians.

Earthly rulers will always disappoint. They don't fulfill their promises. They can't save you. If you are looking for a ruler/king who always keeps his promises, who is always there for you, who is able to save you and grant you eternal life and peace, look no further than Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Everyone must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. What is the basis upon which we will be judged? Jesus says it is his word. It is whether or not we listened to his voice and trusted his claim to be the only way, truth and life.

John was comforted by the vision of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus still living and reigning with Jesus.

The three men in the furnace, Jesus, Peter and John, Paul, all these and more stood up for Jesus. Thanks to them, and others like Hus and Luther, the good news of the gospel has been preserved to us today. It's now up to us to continue to stand up for Jesus even in the face of threats or persecution.

Sacrificial giving is over and above our planned proportional giving.

When we remember that Jesus gave everything for us we are moved to give everything for him. The widow gave all she had trusting God's promise to bless all who put him first.

Set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income.

In Jesus' parable of the talents he praises both the servant who gained 5 and the servant who gained 2. The amount they gained was not what he praised. He praised their faithfulness. God looks for faithfulness in his serants.

Bible Study on the Biblical concept of First Fruits Giving.

God challenges his people to consider their priorities to see if anyone or anything is more important than him. He has made us his priority by taking on flesh and blood in order to pay for all our sins.

Like Bartimaeus, in response to what Jesus has done for us, we follow him. We refuse to be quiet about who he is and what he has done for us. 

God often told his people to care for and protect foreigners, fatherless and widows, those who are easy targets for those who would abuse others. Jesus picks up on this theme as tells us to protect children, reminding us that it would be better for those who take advantage of them to have been thrown into the sea with a heavy stone around their necks. As we realize that we have not always protecte...

Moses showed humility. Miriam and Aaron showed what James warns about, pride and selfish ambition, when they complained about Moses. The disciples argued about who was the greatest and Jesus reminded them that in his kingdom, those who humble themselves and are willing to be servants of all are the greatest. Like Miriam, Aaron, and the Disciples, we often give in to pride and selfish ambition. Tha...

As soon as Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus make sure Peter, and we, understands what it means. Jesus must suffer. And Jesus reminds us that, if we follow him, we to must expect hard time.

The deaf man had friends who brought him to the one who cared more for him than anyone ever did or could. Jesus healed him. These men and Jesus showed love and care for a disabled man. We too can show love and care for the disabled, but not just for their bodies. The best thing we can do is bring them to know Jesus as their Savior from sin.

When it comes to eternal life, flesh is no help at all. God chooses to provide us with eternal salvation through is powerful word.

People were offended when Jesus talked about eating his flesh. Why did Jesus say things that offended people? He wanted to challenge them to say with the young boy's father, "Lord I believe, help me overcome my unbelief." Jesus wants us to "eat" his flesh, to take him in and trust him so completely that nothing he says or does will cause us to stumble in our faith.

Manna was a great blessing from God, but those who ate it still died. Jesus gives his flesh for the life of the world. Those who "eat" him, the bread of life, live forever.

Jesus worked hard to get the people to see that their source of their real hunger was their lack of righteousness. He wanted them to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness so that they would come to him as the only one who could satisfy that hunger and thirst. He alone has the Father's seal of approval. He alone is righteous. In grace he gives us the righteousness we need to stand in the judgm...

With the feeding of the 5000 Jesus teaches us to trust him to provide for our needs, reminds us not to waste anything he has given us, and most importantly, shows that he is the Prophet, the Messiah who will not serve as an earthly king, but the heavenly king he alone can give eternal life.